Unions and community members rally together in support of baby Asha in Lady Cilento’s Children’s Hospital in South Brisbane

Hundreds gathered together in front of Lady Cilento’s Children’s Hospital in South Brisbane today showing their support and standing in solidarity for hospital staff who are refusing to hand a 12-month-old baby over to the government so that the child would be put into offshore detention on the island of Nauru.

The 12-month-old was admitted to hospital with burns from boiling water while in detention on Nauru. The baby and her family were living in a tent at the time. Asha was the first infant born into detention in Australia to be transferred to the island of Nauru. The Children’s Hospital is refusing to release the baby until a “Suitable” is found. The hospital also stated that all decisions relating to a patient’s treatment and discharge are made by qualified clinical staff.

The Greens’ spokeswoman for immigration sen Sarah Hanson-Young huge admiration for the doctors and nurses at the hospital who are doing the right thing by refusing to release the baby to the government.

During the rally the supporters chanted “let them stay”.

The Queensland Labour government has said that it will do what it can to support baby Asha and that she has secure future here in Australia.